A financial services worker in Shanghai has taken legal action against his former employer after being terminated for browsing pornographic websites at work. The 41-year-old client relationship manager, identified as Yang, sought $43,000 in damages, alleging wrongful termination.
According to reports, Yang had worked for five years at the company, earning approximately $2,360 per month before his dismissal in August 2022. The average monthly salary in urban Shanghai that year was around $1,700.
Yang's employer cited a breach of contract, which prohibited accessing pornographic content at work, as the reason for his termination. However, Yang presented evidence suggesting that his computer may have been infected by a virus, possibly from colleagues downloading movies on work computers outside business hours.
Yang also highlighted the impracticality of watching explicit material in an open office environment without speakers. He argued that the 'little movies' in question must have been viewed by someone else.
The employer countered with internet records showing that Yang accessed adult sites while actively performing work tasks. Additionally, a chat group transcript revealed Yang's admission of signing up for an adult content website and struggling with self-discipline.
The Xuhui Court ultimately ruled in favor of the employer, dismissing Yang's claim for $43,000. However, Yang was awarded $1,090 for unused paid leave in 2021.
Notably, this was not the first time Yang had sued his employer over the same issue. In a previous attempt, he sought $47,000 in damages but was only granted compensation for leftover paid time off.
The incident reflects a broader trend of employees using company devices to access adult websites, particularly with the rise of remote work. Studies have shown a significant increase in such behavior, raising concerns about cybersecurity risks in the workplace.
